Locking device for voting-machines.



J. A. BUTLER.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR VOTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1910.

1,028,837, v Patented June 4, 1912.

MW I fnventciz'h i3 l( MM M UNITED STATES. PATENT ojerron.

JAMES A. BUTLER, OF WINTHBOP, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 FREDERICK E; NICKELS, OF DORCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR VOTING-MACI-ITNES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4., 1912.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. BUTLER, of

new and Improved Locking Device for Voting-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

This invention has reference to improvements in locking devices for voting machines whereby a series of actuating devices may be locked against operation by or through the operation of one of said devices.

The object of this invention is to so construct a locking device for a mechanically operated voting machine adapted to register votes for several candidates to a single oflice, that the operation of the device through which a vote for one candidate for an ofiice is registered automatically effects the locking of a series of similar actuating devices.

Other objects of the invention appear from the following description.

The invention consists in a series of actuating devices, for vote registering mechanism, any one of which may be operated by a voter, and means operated bythe first device operated for locking all other of said devices against movement.

The invention also consists in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as shall hereinafter be more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1, represents a sectional plan view of a series of the improved locking devices taken on line 1-1 Fig. 2. Fig. 2, represents a sectional view of the same taken on line 22 Fig. 1, one of the ordinary registering devices being shown in position. Fig. 3, represents a view similar to Fig. l, the parts being shown as in the locked position.

Similar numbers of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout.

In the voting machine to which this improvement is particularly adapted, a series of vote registering mechanisms are arranged in vertical series and are provided with key operated rotatable devices through each of which its related registering mechanism isoperated, once for each vote cast, by the rotation of the key operated device. Said'several registering mechanisms of said series are intended to register votes for the several candidates for a single ofice and, hence,

precaution should be taken to preventthe operation of several of the registers by a single voter.

In'carrying this invention into practice, I construct a machine having the front plate 5 and the back plate 6 secured together by the posts 7, ,7 and carrying between them the rotatable hubs 8, 8 each having at one end the'key hole 9 and at the other the square spindle 10 while, in the body of the hub are the segmental depressions'll open at the periphery of the hub. On blocks 12, 12 secured to the plate 5 are pivotally mounted links 13, IS-having rounded ends'lal, 14 to each pair of which is pivoted the lock bar 15 havmg the upper squared end 16 and the lower curved end 17 which, at rest, is held in contact with the end 16 of the next lower spring 21, said arms 20 each having the curved members 22 the end of which is adapted to be received by one of the depressions 11, ll of its related hub 8, and the longer member 23 having the pin or stud 24: which is so positioned that in its movement against the action of spring 21 it just clears the end 16 of its related lock bar 15. The lower of said series of lock bars 15 is furnished with the stud 25 which is engaged with the stop 26 fixed on the plate 5 whereby the downward movement of said lowermost lock bar 1.5 is prevented. Above the upper of said series of lock hars 15 is positioned the stop 27 which resists undue strain exerted on the pin 24, when in the locking position, by the attempt to lift said series of. lock bars 15 or any of them.

In operating the machine, a key is inserted in the keyhole 9 of one of the hubs 8, and a rot-ativc movement is given to said key to rotate the particular hub 8 with which the key is engaged and to this actuate the vote registering mechanism, consisting of the toothed rack 30, movable longitudinally 'by being contacted by the opposite lugs 31 of the hub 8, with which the spindle 10 is engaged. As the hub 8 rotates, the surface of its depression 11, gradually enlarging to the periphery of the hub 8, moves against the end of the curved member,22 of its related lever 20 and efiects the swinging of said lever and its member 23, against the action of its spring 21, whereupon the pin 24 is moved into line with the series 0f lock bars 15; in the caseof the upper locking device, said pin moves over theend 16 of the uppermost of said series of bars 15 and prevents the upward movement of all of said lock bars while in such position. In the case of the lower of said lock bars 15, the pin 24 of the'particular lever 20, in swinging above the end 16 of its related lock bar 15, bears against the curved end 17 of the lock bar 15 next above and moves upward said lock bar and all the corresponding lock bars thereabove, so that their upper ends 16 are above the path of movement of their related locking pins 24 whereby the rotation of the hubs 8 of said'upper devices is prevented through the interception of the pins 24 by the edges of said lock bars 15 whereby the ends of the curved members 22 are held in locking enga ement with the depression 11 of their respectively related hubs 8. If said lock bar 15, directly engaged by its related pin 24, is above the lowermost lock bar of the series all of said lock bars 15 curved only to an extent that will enable 3 said ends to ride up on to the related pins 24c.

Having thus described my invention I claimas new and desireto secure by Letters Patent.

1. A device of the nature described comprising an actuatable device, a slidable rack operatively positioned with respect thereto, a lever interlocking with said device, a locking bar adapted to be engaged and locked by said lever in its movement toward the voting position and a second look bar related to the first mentioned lock bar and adapted to be moved by the lever of the [first lock bar to a position to intercept the lever, of the said second look bar, in its movement toward the unlocking position, and said lock bars being mQvably-mounted on pivoted supports.

2. The combination of a series of rotatable hubs, and a lever pivotally mounted adjacent each of said hubs and hav-' ing two members, of which one interlocks with said hub and is moved by the rotation of the hub to swing said lever, and the other of said members has a riding pin, of a series of approximately contacting lock bars related to said series of hubs and pivotally mounted on movable supports, each of said lock barshaving a curved lower end with which the riding pin of said second lever member is adapted to cotiperate to lift said lock bar from its normal position, whereby said pin enters between two of said lock bars.

JAMES A. BUTLER.

Witnesses:

H. J. MILLER, E. E. AUERBAQH. 

